Refrigerating apparatus



March 2, 1943. c. B. DEMANN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23, 1939 3 Shgets-Sheet 1 March 2, 1943. c. a. DEMANN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 INVENTOR. W

ATTORNEYS CZWMM Patented Mar. 2, 1943 nnmrcnna'rmc APPARATUS Clemens B. Demann, Dayton, Ohio, assignol' to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware Application August 23, 1939, Serial No. 291,573

6 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to compressors.

It is an object of my invention to provide a compressor which will operate eihciently at relatively high speeds and which will have a minimum clearance volume 'and will maintain a high volumetric efliciency throughout all operating speeds.

It is another object of my invention to provide a compressor having inlet and discharge valves having ample capacity which will be quiet at all speeds.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a compressor with inlet and outlet valves of ample capacity located entirely within the cylinder walls andhaving a minimum of clearance volume.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one form of my compressor together with the remaining elements of a refrigerating system diagrammatically 11- lustrated;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 33 of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Briefly, I have shown a reciprocating compressor having a piston and cylinder, each having a lower cylindrical portion and an upper truncated cone-shaped portion. A discharge valve is provided in the cylinder head and two opposed inlet valves are provided in the cylinder walls adpacent the junction between the cylindrical-portion of the conical portion of the cylinder wall. The piston has projections extending and substantially filling the discharge passages in the cylinder head and\ the inlet valves are constructed so as to provide a. very small clearance volume. The valve inlet passages are sufliciently large and are streamlined so as to permit thev compressor to operate efficiently at relatively high speeds such as 600 R. P. M.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 there is shown a refrigerating system including a compressor 20 driven by an electric motor 22 through a belt 24 and a pulley 26 which is fastened to the outer end of the crankshaft 28 of the compressor. The compressor 28 withdraws refrigerant from the evaporating means 30 through a suction conduit 32 and forwards the compressed refrigerant through a supply conduit 34 to a condenser 38 where the compressed refrigerant is liquefied. A liquid conduit 38 conducts liquid refrigerant to a restrictor 40 which controls the flow of liquid refrigerant into the evaporator 38. The operation of the compressor and the electric motor 22 is controlled b a snap acting switch 42 which has its thermostat bulb in heat exchange relation with the evaporator 30.

The compressor 20 includes a crankcase casting 44 which contains the crankshaft 28. The crankshaft 28 is connected by the connecting rod 28 to the piston pin of the piston 90. Fastened to the top of the crankcase casting 44 by cap screws 48 is the cylinder casting 48 which includes the cylinder wall 50 as well as an inlet jacket 52 which surrounds the upper portion and one side of the cylinder wall 50 and an outlet jacket 54 which surrounds a small portion of the inlet jacket 52 and the other side of the cylinder wall 50.

The inlet valves are not located within the casting 48 but a separate casting 56 is clamped on top of the upper surface of the casting 48 and the inlet valves are embodied in this pasting 55. This casting 56 forms the upper portion of the inlet jacket as well as the upper portion of the cylinder wall. I have evolved an unusual and highly eflicient arrangement for the upper end of the piston, the cylinder head and the valves. Each cylinder of the compressor is provided with dual inlet valve passages 58 and 58, which are formed in the casting 55 andcommunicate with a large common passage 62 also formed in the casting 56 which leads down into the portion of the jacket 52 which is a part of the casting 48. This passage 62 extends straight upwardly from the interior of the jacket 52 and curves around with a gradually reduced crosssection until it reaches the valve seat located at the mouth of the passage 58. This gradually reduced cross-section of the passage 58 with. its rounded turns provides substantially a streamlined fiow from the jacket 52 to the mouth of the passage 58.

The mouth of the passage 58 is provided with a set of concentric annular valve seats having a ground and polished finish for receiving the annular valve 64 which is formed of very thin spring steel. These valve seats are in the form of small held in position by pairs of pins I4 which serve.

to locate the leaf springs. As a further help in locating the leaf springs this assembly is setto a recess 18 in an insert 18 which in turn is placed In a recess 88 provided in the casting 58. It should be noted that the free ends of the leaf springs 88 extend upwardly and downwardly from the middle ring 88. These leaf springs are made individually instead of in the form of a ring so that the grain of the spring steel used will extend longitudinally of the leaf spring. This is highly important because otherwise the leaf springs would readily break. It is therefore important that the grain of the steel used extend in a substantially straight line from the free end of the leaf spring to the anchoring end. This will assure freedom from breakage.

The downwardly extending leaf springs 88 serve to hold the lower valve 82 onto its seat which is formed by shoulders at the mouth of the streamlined passage 84 which is provided in the insert 18. This streamlined passage 84 connects with the passage 88 which is shown in Fig. 1. At the mouth of the streamlined passage 84 annular projecting shoulders are provided in the insert 18 for providing a seat for the valve 82. These shoulders are provided with a ground finish so as to make a tight seal. It should be noted that these inlet valves 84 and 82 are located just below the truncated conical portion 88 at the upper end of the cylinder wall 58. The piston 88 is also provided with a truncated upper portion 88 which is shaped to fit the truncated portion 88 of the cylinder 58. It will be seen that the truncated portion 88 of the cylinder 58 begins at the point indi cated by the reference character 92. This point is an extremely short distance above the opening into the cylinder proper provided between the valve 84 and the middle ringf88. Below this there is also an opening directly into the cylinder provided between the middle ring 88 and the valve 82.

The piston 88 also has a similarly located point or shoulder at which the truncated portion 88 begins. As soon as this point on the piston passes the shoulder or seat on which the valve 84 is seated the clearance space for both the upper and lower inlet valves will be entirely shut oil. Prior to this point there will be a narrow passage between the two truncated portions 88 and 88 as well as a narrow passage across the top of the piston which would have access to this clearance space. However, after the point on the piston is past the seat of the valve 84, the clearance space for both the valves 84 and 82 is shut off by the piston. This clearance space referred to is provided between the valve 84 when on its seat and the middle ring 88 as well as between the valve 82 when on its seat and the middle ring 88. Upon the down stroke of the piston away from the cylinder head the piston is only required to move the short distance between the point 92 and the shoulder where the valve 84 is normally seated before the clearance space for the valve 84 is uncovered to permit the valve 84 to open and to allow gas to fiow into the upper end ofthe cylinder between the truncated portions 88 and 88. This point 82 may be made directly at the point where the valve 84 is located or it may be placed a small distance upwardly therefrom as noted by the reference character 82. This amount will largely depend upon the accuracy and the amount of clearance provided between the top of the piston and the top of the cylinder.

The inlet valves 84 and 82 as well as the rings I8 and 12, the middle ring 88 and the leaf spring 88 form an assembly which is inserted in the recess I8 of the insert I8 prior to the assembly of the cylinder. After this, the insert 18 is fitted into the-recess 88 of the casting 58. A gasket 88 of a rubber-like or soft metal material is provided for preventing the escape of compressed refrigerant from the cylinder into the inlet passage. The insert I8 is firmly held in place in the casting 58 by large headed screws 98 which are threaded into the casting 58 and have their heads overlapping the insert I8 to firmly hold the insert I8 in the casting 58. The casting 58 rests upon the main cylinder casting 48 and a-tongue and grooved type of gasket seal H8 is provided between the insert I8 and the cylinder wall portion 58 of the casting 48. A flat gasket H2 is provided between other portions of the casting 58 and the casting 48. With this gasket arrangement the insert I8 is effectually sealed to the casting 58 and 48.

The cylinder head proper is formed by .a four eared casting I 82, the best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This casting, as heretofore indicated, is provided with four ears I84 having their lower surfaces finish ground and fastened by cap screws I88 to a finish ground surface I88 provided on top of the casting 58. The top of the casting 58 is provided with a shoulder providing an outer discharge valve seat II4. This shoulder is finish ground and is plane and parallel to the finish ground surface I88 to which the ears I88 are clamped. The four eared member I82 carries a cylinder head insert II8 having a cylindrical insert portion II8 which extends into a cylindrical recess I28 provided in the four-eared member I82. This cylinder head insert I I8 is provided with a finish ground shoulder I22 which rests upon another finish ground shoulder surrounding the recess I28. This finish ground shoulder is in the same plane as the finish ground surfaces of the ears I 84. This arrangement of finish ground plain surfaces thereby places the valve seat II4 as well as the surfaces of the ears I84 and the shoulder I22 in the same planes. Therefore it is possible to provide by finish grinding a valve seat I24 upon the rim of the insert I I8 in the same plane as the valve seat II4. In practice the surface I88 and the valve seat II4 are finish ground in the same plane in one operation and the shoulder or surface I2I and the bottom of the ears I88 are finish ground in the same plane in another single operation. Also the shoulder I22 and the valve seat I24 are finish ground in the same plane in still another single operation. It is thus apparent that when all these surfaces vare fastened together as shown. all will be in the same plane.

is finish ground so as provided between the in engagement with the seats H4 and I24 by Z-shaped valve springs I28 which have their anchoring ends located by the bolts I30 and clamped by a ring I32 which clamps the anchoring end of the springs I28 to the upper surface of a finish ground recess I34 in the member I02 which recess provides clearance to permit opening of the valve I26. position by the bolts I30 which extend upwardly through the member I32. The insert H6 is applied to the member I02 after the ring I32 and the springs I28 are clamped in place. The springs I28 are further located by having their inner edges fitting tightly against the, shoulder I38 which forms the inner edge of the recess I34. As in the case of the leaf springs 66 these springs I08 should be so made that the grain of the spring steel extends substantially in a straight line from the free end of the springs to their anchoring end. After the springs I28 and the ring I32 are clamped'in place in the recess I34 the valve I28 is applied and then the insert H6 is fitted into position and clamped by the three cap screws I40. This makes a very simple and convenient valve assembly.

The insert H6 is provided with a downwardly tapered surface I42. This shape is desirable since it provides a thickness in accordance with the pressure stresses exerted upon the insert I I8. It also makes it possible to provide a tapered head I44 for the piston which makes it possible to make the upper end of the piston of a thinner wall section. The surface of the head of the piston is shaped to conform exactly to the surface I42 of the insert and in particular as a projecting shoulder I46 which extends into the passage between the inner and outer valve seats I24 and H4. This shoulder on the inside is beveled so as to prevent the trapping of any compressed gas in between the insert I42 and the top of the piston. By this arrangement sub-.-

stantially no clearance volume is provided and none is necessary. This makes it possible to provide a compressor of exceptionally high volumetric eiliciency and a high overall emciency at substantially all speeds. Therecess I34 opens all the way around directly into the discharge chamber I50 so that very free discharge of compressed gas is provided.

The discharge chamber is covered by a top cover I 52 provided with a sealing gasket I54 and is held in place by cap screws I55 which.

extend down through the casting 55 into the upper portion of the casting 48 so that these can screws hold the entire upper portion of the compressor in place. The streamlined inlet passages together with the dual inlet valve and the leaf springs make it possible to admit a full charge of suction gas during each stroke even at high speeds. The location of the inlet valves adjacent to and concentric with the discharge valve This ring I32 is held in quiet. All these factors contribute to the outstanding performance of this compressor.

This compressor is not limited to usein a refrigerating system but may be used in compressing gases for many other purposes.

While the form of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A reciprocating compressor including a cylinder and a piston, said cylinder including a separate lower wall-forming portion, a'separate upper wall-forming portion, and a cylinder head constituting a part separate from but connected to the upper wall-forming portion, and a valve assembly held between said upper portion and said lower portion.

2. A valve means for a compressor including a valve seat, an annular valve for making sealing contact with said valve seat, and a plurality of separate Z-shaped leaf spring members for holding said annular valve upon said seat, said members each having the grain of the metal extending longitudinally therethrough.

3. A compressor including a cylinder and a piston, the wall of said cylinder being provided with an annular downwardly opening inlet port means and an annular upwardly opening inlet port means located opposite each other, each of said port means extending around the cylinder wall, a substantially similar annular valve for each of said port means, and spring means bodily located between and acting directlyupon said valves for holding said valves in engagement with said port means. v

4. A compressor including a cylinder and a piston, the wall of said cylinder being provided helps to cool the cylinder head. The use of the leaf springs makes it possible to reduce the volume required for valve clearance. The discharge valve is -of adequate area and provides a very direct discharge into the discharge chamber. All of the valves are light in weight and of com-. parativeLv small lift so that they are relatively with oppositely facing inlet ports of substantially equal size arranged in parallel gas flow relationship directly oppositeeach other, a valve for each of said inlet ports, and spring means extending directly between said valves for holding said valves in engagement with said ports.

I 5. A reciprocating compressor including a cylinder and a piston having a frusto-conical head, said cylinder including .a separate lower wall-forming portion for supporting in sliding sealing relationship thelower cylindrical portion of the piston, said cylinder also including a separate upper wall-forming portion having walls complementary to the frusto-conical head of the piston, a separate cylinder head forming the top ,wall portion of the cylinder.

6. A reciprocating,compressor including a cylinder and a piston having a frusto-conical head, said cylinder including a separate lower wall-forming portion for supporting in sliding sealing relationship the lower cylindrical portion of the piston, said cylinder also including a separate upper wall-forming portion having walls complementary to the frusto-conical head of. the piston, a separate cylinder head forming the top wall portion of the cylinder, and a valve assembly held between the separate upper and lower wall-forming portions.

. CLEMENS B. DEMANN. 

